First problem: who are these Jokers? Thats what you get if you outsource political deliberation.
Democracy used to be about a people electing people who have ideas for the future of the country.
Now it is about electing people who pay other people to have ideas.
On the other hand, it means it simply is a report, nothing binding.
On the other hand one must admit they're right in some aspects.
Britain is as much the Empire as Germany is the Reich, people only go to Church on weddings or funerals and most kids in England and Germany know more about SpongeBob than about Shakespeare or Goethe.
It is a fact, that most of western europe has become a post-everything consumer society. Wether you like it or not, that's the way it is.
Their basic premise is right, only the conclusion is wrong.
Multiculturalism works if all of those multiple cultures share the same basic beliefs.
All of them must regard religion mainly as a matter of heritage, must have put aside
nationalist differences and basically regard the other as equal. Relationships and marriages into another nation must not pose a problem for every side for this to work.
Might sound radical, but I suppose integrating England and Germany (or any western european country) into one nation would be doable under those premises. Integrating the native population of either England or Germany with their mainly muslim immigrant population is not.
Most Immigrant populations simply have not (yet?) arrived in the post-everything society. Religion is a part of their way of life as is shaving or sleeping. They do hate other nations with the same fervor our own ancestors hated each other 1914. Many have real problems regarding relationships with outsiders, let alone marriages and families, at least regarding women.
For that reason, as the muslim conservative said, the very idea of abolishing Christmas or even putting other religious festivities on an equal level is seen as a sign of weakness and betrayal. They hold dear to their ancient customs, so they regard holding dear such things as the honourable thing to do for a society.
If a society comes and lays down its most ancient traditions for another culture, it is not seen as courtesy, but as admitting inferiority.
If Europe never had started the immigrant business, multiculturalism might have worked.
I always think it is funny when americans complain over their Latino problem.
I'd prefer a barrio over a kashbah any time
